Broken End: Leaving the Wrong Love

Fifteen years ago,a fire ravaged everything,and to save Caleb Maverick,I rushed into the inferno.I know,it was dumb of me but what could I do back then?I wanted to save the one I loved by doing the unthinkable.

As a result of the excessive Smoke from the fire,my left eye got damaged,rendering it blind.As I gradually got better,Caleb popped the question.

"From now on,I'll be your eyes."His eyes twinkled as he smiled.With my other good eye,I was still appreciative of the man that proposed to me.

He vowed to care for me forever,and I believed him like a fool.But years later,his promise

faded.

——

He wasn't the man I used to know when the going was good.He had changed completely.

Pregnant and alone,I waited at the hospital.

"You're not completely blind,so why do you need me to go with you?You're being dramatic again."He had said."This household's expenses are all covered by me;you're spending my money,so don't cause any trouble.Do you think I'd need to work overtime if it weren't for supporting you?"

He left,annoyed,and I sat alone on the hospital bench,waiting for the checkup results.Instead,all I got was the shock of my life—Caleb's side piece,Ava Jacobs had posted on Social Media that she was on a romantic getaway trip to the underwater aquarium.

The picture showed Caleb and herself surrounded by fishes,embracing and gazing lovingly at each other.The caption read,"The man I love gave me an underwater aquarium.This is the most romantic love!"

I knew about the underwater aquarium.It was an expensive place which he had built just for her.My heart was broken to shreds.It hurt.

The man I loved had moved on.The man I almost died to save had moved on.Why were they always like this?Moving on to the next available woman when the present woman no longer suits their needs.

It was disgusting and I hated Caleb for it.When I was done with the antenatal,I went home alone.My mind was racing with different thoughts of'what-ifs'.

I forced a smile,feeling bitter.It turned out she was his true love.

When I returned home,my phone was flooded with messages from him.

"Where were you?I went to the hospital,and you weren't there."

"You're playing games with me,Elise.You think you're really clever!?"

Each message was filled with anger.My heart ached intensely.A week ago,I reminded him about the prenatal checkup,but he still forgot.He was more concerned about doing whatever pleased that side piece rather than what was good for his family.

As I typed,my fingers trembled.

"Having fun with Ava at the underwater aquarium?"

Just as I expected,the messages stopped coming in.He'd rather not ruin the moment and be with Ava than to come home and care for his pregnant wife.

It annoyed me the more I thought about it.If anyone had told me years ago that Caleb would be like this,I wouldn't have believed them.

It hurt me even more that I believed his lies all those years ago.I should have known better.

After I sent the message,he stopped responding and blocked me,waiting for me to apologize first like I always did.

It was his MO.He loved gaslighting me.Making me beg for him just because I was blinded in one eye.But not this time,this time,I'd had enough.

After a few hours,he returned home,slamming the door.My ears rang because of the noise.This was his way of announcing his arrival.His way of letting me know that he didn't want to be home with me.

His footsteps echoed as he got closer to the room we shared.When he finally badged in,he looked okay,which meant he wasn't drunk.

He tossed two seashells on the table,sizing me up before looking away.

"Ava sent these for you."He muttered,taking off his clothes.The nerves he had on him to still bring takeouts from their so called outing.He wasn't ashamed to admit that there was another woman.

This was him indirectly telling me that I didn't matter to him anymore.

"Excuse me?"The muscles in my jaw ticked with how much I was gnashing my teeth.This idiot obviously didn't have the decency to be respectful to me.

But then again,whatever was happening now,I deserved it.I was a fool for love.I did the unthinkable for love.I accepted to walked on all in the name of love.

And now,a broken heart was all that was left.It was all I got in return for my sacrifices.

"Don't play coy with me,Elise.I'm in no mood to argue with you today.Just take it as a token of her thoughtfulness."

My stomach churned.I felt nauseated.The smell of the ocean was messing me.I was finding it so hard to control myself from puking because of the stupid morning sickness.

As a first time mom,the pregnancy hormones didn't feel so good.I was either spitting a lot or having swollen legs and loss of appetite.I couldn't wait for nine months to be over.

Caleb's face darkened."What the hell is that attitude for?All you do is nag while all Ava does is being considerate of you."

"Caleb…take those shells away from me…"I said in between deep breaths.He didn't take it lightly.Me refusing his side piece gifts to me.Maybe he thought I'd consider it a favor.

He grabbed my neck."You're getting on my last fucking nerves,Elise.Take the fucking shells."

I began to see tiny dots in my vision.I was almost out of breath but he kept ranting about shells.I fainted on the sofa,my breathing labored.

Only then did he notice my distress.He rushed to get water to sprinkle on my face.

He kept muttering,"Aren't you feeling okay?Why didn't you say anything?You're so stubborn that you'd rather make a fuss than think of your health."

"I wouldn't be this way if you had noticed,"I said,weakly.My face had lost all its color.Why was I always at the end of his anger?Did I disgust him that much?

He sighed,scratching his head in frustration.He couldn't really do anything to me in my condition.Caleb was everything else but an abuser–at least not physically.

"Look,there's no need to make a big deal out of nothing.Just post a picture of the shells online,with a simple caption for Ava's sake."His disheveled hair was everywhere."She's worried that you may not like the gift,so just do it."

My anger rose again.Why was he being so stupid?Anyone could see through Ava's facade.She was with him for the money.

"I won't do it."

He sneered."Jealous much?"

"Say all you want,Caleb.I'm not posting any pictures online to please your girlfriend."I seethed.

"Of course,you're jealous.Who wouldn't be jealous of her?You're just a disfigured woman who doesn't hold a candle against her."

His words cut me deep but I refused to act on it.

That night,he ended up posting the picture with my phone himself,whispering words that I could hear because he was in close proximity.

What did he do that for?How did he even get my phone.

"Very lovely."

"What did you do that,Caleb?I told you not to post anything.How did you even get my phone?"

He fumed,veins popping on his forehead."Ava couldn't sleep,so I decided to do it since you were too stubborn to do so."

It was ridiculous.I called him out.

"Why did you do that?Did I beg you for shells?What do you think she'll think of me now?Why are you so hell bent on humiliating me with her?"

He dismissed me like what I was saying didn't make any sense."See what I said?You're overreacting."

Oh,fuck it!That was the final straw.I'd had enough of his narcissistic self.

"I've had enough of this.Let's get a divorce."

He laughed."Who'll want a blind woman?"

The same man who once promised to be my eyes,now taunted me.The fire that once blinded me now illuminated the truth:Caleb was never my savior,but my captor.

Fifteen years ago,the fire had taken my sight.Now,it was my dignity.

But I would be damned if I let him take anything else.